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How Pfizer Crafted Its Own ‘Operation Warp Speed’ For The COVID-19 Vaccine

Final Leg Of Supply Talks With Indian Govt

 
• By Vibha Ravi

It’s counter-intuitive, but not signing a commercial contract with BioNTech and refusing US federal funding were two of several moves Pfizer made to speed up development of its COVID-19 vaccine, CEO Albert Bourla says. Now it’s looking to supply low- and middle-income countries.

Pfizer's Albert Bourla and Biogen's Stelios Papadopoulos at USAIC 2021
Albert Bourla Shares Pfizer's COVID-19 Vaccine Journey With Biogen's Stelios Papadopoulos • Source: Scrip/USAIC

Pfizer Inc.’s shaping of its own "Operation Warp Speed" while developing a COVID-19 vaccine is a fascinating story of trust, commitment and organizational preparedness, one well narrated by CEO and chairman Albert Bourla at the USA-India Chamber of Commerce’s annual Biopharma & Healthcare Summit.

With the world “collapsing in front of us” on account of the pandemic, he realized “this was above and beyond the future of Pfizer…and I knew that if we are successful, we will be able to contribute to the world what is needed and

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Arcturus and CSL Take on Pfizer With Longer-Lasting COVID Vaccine

 
• By Kevin Grogan

Kostaive is the first self-amplifying mRNA COVID-19 vaccine to receive approval from the European Commission and could provide serious competition to Pfizer/BioNTech's Comirnaty and Moderna's Spikevax.

Under-Pressure Moderna Banks $590m To Speed Up Bird Flu Vaccine

 
• By Kevin Grogan

A week after a downbeat forecast at J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, the US mRNA specialist has pocketed another sizeable sum from the US Department of Health and Human Services to accelerate development of an H5N1 mRNA pandemic influenza vaccine.

Stock Watch: Q3, Bonfire Of The Vaccine Manufacturers

 
• By Andy Smith

Pfizer’s and Moderna’s quarterly pandemic-related product sales could not mask other weaknesses while GSK’s quarter was marred by unimpressive non-pandemic vaccines sales.

Meiji Considers Legal Action Amid Japan Misinformation On Kostaive Vaccine

 
• By Lisa Takagi

Japanese distributor Meiji Seika Pharma is considering possible legal action against what it views as online slander around COVID-19 vaccine Kostaive, which received its global-first approval in Japan last year and has now been launched for regular vaccination in the country.

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Industry Makes Its Case To Trump In Effort To Sidestep Tariffs

 
• By Jessica Merrill

Pharmaceutical industry organizations offered alternatives to tariffs that could maintain a secure domestic supply chain in public comments filed in response to a 232 investigation.

Copycats Compound Novo’s Wegovy Growth Problems

 
• By Andrew McConaghie

The US FDA has ordered compounders of the Danish firm's obesity drug semaglutide to shut up shop later this month, but competition from Eli Lilly is only increasing.

Stock Watch: Market Optimism Outshines Q1 Currency And Tariff Woes

 
• By Andy Smith

The weak US dollar helped some companies reporting first-quarter results and hindered others reporting in stronger currencies. But even the impacts of currencies and Medicare modernization on first-quarter revenues were overlooked when an end to the trade wars seemed possible.